What does it mean to be human? Is man one or two parts? Is man different than animals? How? How does that fit with cloning, cyborg’s and spiritual machines? Is trimming deformed kids with problems for their organs like weeding a garden?

In God’s Image u Gen 1:26ff: “The God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (cf. 5:1f)

Four Aspects of God’s image SiR DR. u Spiritual/Moral Qualities u Relational u Dominion/rule u Replica

Spiritual/Moral Qualities u Ability to make moral choices u Man capable of knowledge, righteousness and true holiness (Col 3:10 & Eph 4:24) “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” “and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness

Spiritual Qualities u Image lost in the fall? No, marred--yes James 3:9 James 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. u What are the implications of this?

Relational aspect of the image: “Let US make man in OUR image” u Who is the “us” Trinity Plural of majesty Heavenly court (Isa 6:8 who will go for us?”) I Kgs 22:19ff; Job 1 Self-deliberation -- odd in Bible What are the implications of this?

Ruling Representative: Dominion aspect u “Let us make man as our image” to rule... u Kings would have representatives and they would rule in the king’s place over that region. u Notice the emphasis in Gen 1:26f on ruling u What are the implications of this? Purpose, meaning, destiny, vice-regent role of humans

Image as physical replica u Do we physically look like God? u Selem [image] and demut [likeness] both very physical terms; image = physical representation 1 Sam 6:5 made images of rats (3D) representation of the rats that had plagued them

Image as physical replica u Assyrian kings made “images” of themselves and set up in territories to show that they were rulers of that area u But God is a spirit and has not flesh and bones... Jn 4:24; Lk 24:36ff u Physical image built on Christ?

What are the implications of the Image in us? u Eschatologically: 1 Jn 3:2f “But we know when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” u Weight of Glory: dignity and respect to others –Maxine, Michael Card concert